Senate Confirms Brett Matsumoto as BLS Commissioner

The United States Senate confirmed Brett Matsumoto as the commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics on Friday in a 51-47 vote. A career economist and inflation expert, Matsumoto is a former employee of the agency he now leads.

Matsumoto replaces Erika McEntarfer, whom President Donald Trump dismissed in August 2025 amid accusations of employment report data manipulation. The appointment ends a period of instability for the agency that included the withdrawal of a previous nominee, E.J. Antoni, and the disbanding of advisory boards.

Upon his confirmation, Matsumoto pledged to maintain the agency's independence and ensure that data decisions are driven by science rather than politics. He inherits an organization facing significant resource constraints, including a high vacancy rate for senior positions and data gaps caused by a 43-day government shutdown last year.